Awards head south for the best homes

New homes in picturesque villages of South Leicestershire are competing in the Small Residential category of this year’s ProCon Leicestershire property and construction awards.

In the running are homes in Ashley, Great Bowden and Medbourne. The category, sponsored by Infrastructure Investment, is one of six in this year’s ProCon Awards.

The ProCon Awards’ overall sponsors are Unique Window Systems, Westleigh Partnerships, Gateley Plc and Salus Approved Inspectors. The Leicester Mercury is the Awards’ media partner.

The Small Residential Scheme of the Year finalists are:

Green Lane/Main Street, Ashley, submitted by brp architects

A farmhouse and its threshing barn have been converted into new dwellings as part of a four home development in South East Leicestershire village of Ashley.

A partially demolished outbuilding was rebuilt on the same footprint to reinstate an historic thatched roof cottage that once occupied the site. And a new-build property includes the conversion of a former piggeries.

New Hunt Manager’s Cottage, Great Bowden, submitted by Corporate Architecture

The new hunt manager’s cottage is a bold and solid traditional house with a modern twist.

Its design takes its lead from the rich variety of architectural styles in the previous redevelopment of the old stables and the existing Nether Green houses, including the strong detailing of the steep pitched roof.

Spring Bank, Medbourne, submitted by brp architects

The bespoke home in the picturesque village of Medbourne overcame a series of significant constraints to secure conservation area consent and planning approval.

Next to the village’s Grade II* listed church and to Medbourne Brook, the designers raised floor levels to mitigate flood risk and ensured the ridge height did not compromise views of the church.

James Boyle, director of the award’s sponsor Infrastructure Investments, said: “The design and building of housing that rises to the challenge of increased legislation and addresses sustainability is of crucial importance.

“Creating dwellings that people like living in now and will like in the future should bring out the best in design and construction, so these shortlisted projects – and the eventual winner – deserve enormous credit.”

The winner will be announced at a November ceremony at Leicester’s King Power Stadium.

The other five awards are:

• Large Residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Infrastructure Investment
• Small Non-residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Danaher & Walsh
• Large Non-residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Danaher & Walsh
• Regeneration Project of the Year, sponsored by EME Installations
• Sustainable Development of the Year, sponsored by Willmott Dixon